**This is book 2 of the Palace of Spies series, so there may be some spoilers re previous volumes.**

In this second volume, our heroine (and spy), Peggy, is still doing some work for Mr. Tinderflint. She’s still at the court of the Prince and Princess of Wales, still in love with Matthew and still, unfortunately, betrothed to that horrible man, Sebastian Sandford. Certainly she should be away from him by now, considering is act of near violence upon her. But, as any woman from the 1700s would tell you, Peggy is not the mistress of her own fate. She must do ask her uncle has directed, as he is her closest male family member. It occurs to Peggy that there is something keeping him from tearing up the marriage contract, but what?

The supporters of the the Old Pretender, James Stuart, are in hiding, but they have not given up their dream to return the Catholic King to what they think is his rightful throne. It is rumored that there are Jacobite sympathizers in the court, and Peggy intends to sniff them out. In the meantime, she has to trust that Mr. Tinderflint isn’t holding back crucial information, that she will soon find out what happened to her father, and that she can sever her coming attachment to the Sandford family – all while keeping her post with a smile on her face, a lilt in her voice, and the tiny blade tucked away in her stomacher. A lady can never be too careful.

Ms. Zettel must’ve done a crazy amount of research for her Palace of Spies series. This book actually sounds like a diary that a lady would have written in the time that it is set. The language seems, to my ear anyway, to be just the right amount of old-fashioned. Also, her knowledge of the manners, clothing, makeup and wigs, food (fricassee of pigeon, I think?) is nothing short of amazing. Of course these items alone could make a story just a bunch of boring facts, but it is a fascinating study of the time period with a great heroine. More Peggy, I say.

Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel was published November 4, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley.